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$1M Bail Set For Marine Accused In Fellow Marine's Slaying

$1M Bail Set For Marine Accused In Fellow Marine's Slaying

POSTED: 4:26 pm PDT June 2, 2008
UPDATED: 4:50 pm PDT June 2, 2008

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Bail of $1 million was set Monday for a Camp Pendleton Marine accused of joining with another Marine to kill a fellow serviceman whose body was found in a drainage ditch in Orange County last month.

Pfc. Alvin Reed Lovely, 20, made his initial appearance in a Santa Ana courtroom on a charge of murder, with the enhancement of personal use of a firearm.

Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Vickie Hix postponed arraignment until June 13, and set the $1 million bail for Lovely, who was extradited from Dallas, Texas, on Saturday to face prosecution in the fatal shooting of Pfc. Stephen Serrano.

Lawrence Volk of the Orange County Public Defender's Office could not be reached for immediate comment.

Lovely had been sought since Serrano's body was found in a drainage ditch just off a San Clemente street on May 15.

Lovely, who worked in motor transport, had been on unauthorized absence from Camp Pendleton since April. He was arrested last Wednesday at a relative's house in Dallas, after being tracked by members of a fugitive task force.

Already in custody on a murder charge is Lance Cpl. Christian Carney, 21. He pleaded not guilty last Tuesday and was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

The body of Serrano, clad in desert-color fatigues, was found facedown in the ditch off a trail in the 1000 block of Calle Cordillera. A hiker made the discovery about 45 yards up a slope.

No weapon was recovered. Sheriff's officials have said that Serrano, a field radio operator, was not killed by a military-type firearm.

Lovely joined the Marines on May 7, 2007, and was declared on unauthorized leave in April, according to 1st Lt. Curtis Williamson of Camp Pendleton.

Serrano was married and may have lived off-base, but both Lovely and Carney were required, according to their rank, to live on base.

All three were members of the 2nd battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Williamson said.

Carney, of Suffolk, N.Y., served in Iraq from March to October 2007, and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal. He joined the Marines on Dec. 14, 2004.

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A Marine charged with murder in the killing of a colleague from Camp Pendleton was ordered held on $1 million bail Monday.

Pfc. Alvin Reed Lovely, 20, made his first court appearance after being extradited from Texas over the weekend to face prosecution in the fatal shooting of Pfc. Stephen Serrano.

Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Vickie Hix postponed his arraignment to June 13.

Lovely and his comrade Lance Cpl. Christian William Carney had been sought after Serrano's body—still in desert fatigues and boots—was found in a drainage ditch in San Clemente on May 15. Authorities said Serrano had been shot once in the chest and was believed to have been killed in the ditch. A murder weapon has not been found.

Carney pleaded not guilty to a murder charge last week and was ordered held without bail.

All three Marines were posted at Camp Pendleton and were all assigned to the 1st Marine Division.

Carney and Serrano had been with the Marines about one year, but Lovely went missing several months after arriving at the base, officials have said. The Dallas man was listed by the Marines as being on unauthorized absence, a step before being declared a deserter.